German word

befördern

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈfœʁdɐn/

Meaning

  • verbtransport

Example

Wir befördern die Waren per Zug.

We transport the goods by train.

Illustration for befördern (transport)

More examples

Der Bus befördert heute viele Passagiere zum Flughafen.

Today, the bus is transporting many passengers to the airport.

Core concept

A person or thing is moved onward, either to another place or upward in an organization.

Common phrases

  • Passagiere befördern

    convey passengers

  • mit dem Bus befördern

    convey by bus

  • zum Flughafen befördern

    convey to the airport

Similar words

bringen: Bringing people or things elsewhere by carrying them or traveling with them.
transportieren: Transporting sizeable loads over long distances with vehicles or machinery.
verschicken: Dispatching items to another place through postal or delivery services.
liefern: Bringing ordered goods to the customer or the designated place.

Definition in German

etwas oder jemanden von einem Ort zum anderen transportieren; auch jemanden in eine höhere Position bringen

Word origin

Formed with be- from fördern, befördern carries the idea of advancing something onward into transport and advancement in rank.

Usage tips

  • As a transitive verb, befördern takes the transported person or thing in the accusative, as in Die Bahn befördert die Waren.

Other meanings

  • promoteverb
  • furtherverb

Related words

Word lists with this word